Mr Natapei says he believes the free rein enjoyed by the public on social media needs to be regulated.

"There needs to be some separation. We need to look at social media, how we can control that but to put in place any further restrictions on the media is going to be detrimental to the country at large."

Prime Minister Kilman's threat to regulate media come after weeks of heavy criticism across social and mainstream media in Vanuatu over his government's obscure position on West Papua's recent bid for membership to the MSG.